This is a movie that starts being funny the very first scene and then it continues more or less in that fascion all the way through. A bit bizarre and unconventional but in my opinion that only adds to be positive.Overall good acting, except for some random side role. The two main actors wonderfully portait the dragged-along "Him" and the very impulsive, free-minded and dominant "Marianne".The movie took perhaps one turn to many in some subjects and got a bit repetitive. I my opinion it was just on the right side of that balance, it could not have been very much longer though.This is probably the best romantic comedy I've ever seen. I had a smile on my face all the way home from the cinema, and that is none less than 6 km on a bike through icy streets.

I think this must be the best Norwegian film I have ever seen. Most of the time, our films just leaves you feeling rather dull and confused. I had my doubts about this one as well, but they were mere prejudice. It was all so well directed/written - The hilarious dialogue, the awkward silences, the reactions and the counter-actions... Kept me laughing, and it was probably one of the best films I've seen this year. In addition, I liked the ending, when the main guy ditched Marianne. Throughout the movie, you really get the feeling of how annoyed the main guy must be. Too many films lately (and throughout history) where the couple stays together.

I also saw this at the Toronto Film Festival in Sept. 2007, with my wife. We saw 20 films there, and this was our favorite by far.Yes, it has stereotypes--that's the point. But they hit home. As the director said in his comments, he originally read the novel in bed and kept laughing, but when his wife read it she said "I don't think that's funny." ha ha. The Marion character is great, and the male lead is just as good in his expressions as he reacts to her.The plot is simple--a woman who lives in the same apt. building insinuates herself into the life of a happy bachelor by visiting just before his bedtime and talking his ear off. Familiar?? He succumbs to her charms as the easiest course of action, but every once in a while they hit a bump, and he realizes he might be making a mistake. The question is, will he find a backbone and lead his own life, or will he let himself be dominated by Marion? Could this be the story of every marriage??

Saw these 3 movies at 2007 toronto film fest, Gone with the Woman (GwtW), With Your Permission (WyP) and Forever Never Anywhere (FNA).While WyP and GwtW both deals with perspectives of male/female relationships, both from the male PoV and the struggles it sometimes involves.WyP is layered with reverse situation setups, slow plot revelations and memorable performances. Nothing is perfect, however, as WyP is every so slightly marred by a ... hmmmmmmm .... how shall I put it, ... an under-communicated closing shot. (As in Q&A the director pointed out she wanted a happy ending shot with a sense of "blue").With that in mind, GwtW is a bit disappointing because it uses generalizations, and some stereotypes. There are high points of dialog, visualization but it feels like another version of 'Hi-Fidelity' ... grown men trying grow into their age .. by .. finding the missing one true self. And the execution feels Hollywood also.FNA does not have the same theme, or belongs to the same category .. or any other that I can recall. It is fresh, humorous with some risk taking ... sometimes may have traversed over the limits of some viewers (but at no time degrades or degenerates into something less), is my most enjoyable film from the festival.So 8 for WyP, 9 for FNA, 6 for GwtW.Edit 2008: Still the same feeling. Gone with the women is not memorable for me. I can hardly recall this movie now. Only part I can vaguely remember is some painting of the dresser and throwing it out the window or something. While I want to see Forever Never Anywhere again and With Your Permission I might have judge it too harsh just because the ending didn't fit. Still insist WyP is much more poignant and thoughtful.